Apparatus for making corkboard insulation and the like



Dec. 13, 1949 B. R. ABBOTT 2,490,765

' APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORKBOARD INSULATION AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 12. 194e 4 sheets-sheet 1 M+ @jf-w vA7- ORNE,

Dec. 13, 1949 B. R, ABBOTT 2,490,765

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORKBOARD INSULATION AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. l2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tizi. 2.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1946 ATTORNEY APPARATUS'FOR MAKING GORKBOARD :INSULATION AND THE LIKE Dec. 13, 1949 B R, ABBOTT 2,490,765

Filed Nov. l2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 D O 0 0 O O O 0 d D 0 v O O O 0 O 0 65@ o o o o 0 o o 0 O O O 0 o 0 0 D O 0 D O 0 O C 0 0 164 yifl Fq.5. 4V 4/ f \!0 l F1a-E. M+/177' RNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1949 APPARATUS Fon MAKING common msULATIoN AND THE LIKE Boyd Abbott, Norristown, Pa.. signor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 12, 1946, Serial No. 709,313

12 Claims, (Ci. 257-73) This invention relates to the making of cork insulation and more particularly to an apparatus for injecting a cooling uid into a block of molded corkboard upon completion of baking to reduce the temperature of a molded hot block of compressed cork granules below the point where internal charring or burning will occur.

In the manufacture of cork insulation, the cork granules are molded into blocksunder pressure in a closed mold while subjected to superheated steam at a, temperature approximating 550 F. 'I'he blocks are of a size for example about thirtyseven inches in lengthby about thirteen inches by nineteen and one-half inches, convenient for cutting into slabs suitable for commercial use.

When these molded blocks leave the mold with retained temperatures approximately that of the supplied steam and when then exposed to the atmosphere, the entering air, reaching the interior of the block, generates not only sufiicient heat to char the block internally, but to become a dangerous re hazard, though in either case the block is ruined as a commercial product.

Some of the objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved apparatus for making corkboard insulation; to provide a novel apparatus for treating hot molded cork blocks to eliminate the danger of charring or burning when exposed to the atmosphere; to provide a novel apparatus for treating superheated molded cork blocks wherein a cooling medium is caused to permeate the interior of the heated block and reduce the temperature of the block below a charring temperature; to provide a novel apparatus for treating hot molded cork blocks wherein piercing devices are arranged to enter the block to provide for the injection of a cooling medium for distribution within the block to reduce the temperature below the charring point; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation, in part section, of an injection press embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same partly in section; Fig. 3 represents one of the injection needles on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 represents a detail in side elevation showing the cam for controlling one of the limit switches; Fig. 5 represents an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig 4; Fig. 6 represents a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 'l represents a plan of the stripper plate; Fig. 8 represents a sectional detail of an enlarged scale of the water 66 2 inlet port construction; and Fig. 9 ls a schematic wiring diagram oi electrical control circuits for the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, one form of apparatus embodying the invention comprises a bed I0 mounted in horizontal position upon a suitable substantial base structure Il and at a convenient height toreceive. molded cork blocks I2 which are to be fed one at a time into position upon the bed.

For supporting the blocks I2 for delivery to and away from the bed I0, the base structure II is provided with suitably spaced rails I3 extending laterally from the bed Ill to a receiving point. These rails I3 are rigidly supported with the upper faces thereof in the plane of the bed I0. In this way the blocks I2 pass smoothly from the rails I3 to the bed I0 and from the bed I0 to corresponding rails I4 positioned on the opposite end of the bed I0. As shown, the rails I3 are of a length to support more than one block I2 at a time, and the rails are positioned to receive the hot blocks as each is discharged from the molding operation by a suitable conveyor, not shown.

In order to feed the blocks I2 along the rails, and with an intermediate rest point when the block is registered over the bed I0, two conveyor chains I5 and I 6 are driven at opposite sides respectively of the base structure, by pairs of sprockets Il and IB, which in turn are given a step-by-step rotation by a chain and sprocket drive 20 from an electric motor 2l. The two chains I5 and I8 are each provided at spaced intervals with bearing brackets 22 (Figure 4) for supporting respectively laterally disposed stub shafts 23 as journals for sleeve-like push rollers 24. The arrangement is such that the rollers 24 on the chain I5 are respectively in lateral alinement with the rollers 24 on the chain I6 (Figure l) and each pair of alined rollers 24 is spaced from the next pair such a distance as to receive one block between the pairs.

For the purpose of introducing water or other cooling medium into the hot molded block to reduce the internal temperature below that at which spontaneous combustion would occur, a plurality of tubular needles 25, each having discharge outlets 2i at the piercing end, are provided, the same depending from a transversely disposed platen 21 by means of couplings 2B which open into chamber 30 to form inlets to the respective needles 25. The platen 21 forms the bottom of the chamber 30 and a plate 3| the top,

while a peripheral ilange 32 (Figure 2) closes the chamber.

As a means of admitting the cooling medium to the chamber 30, the plate II is provided with a valve housing 33 in the form of a disc 34 having radially arranged discharge outlets 35 (Figures 1 and 6) communicating with the chamber 36, and an inlet port 36 Vcommunicating with the lower end oi a vertically disposed supply pipe 31. The upper end of the pipe 31 terminates in axial abutting alinement with a piston rod 36 carrying a tubular injection piston 40, and has communication with the piston 40 by way oi axially disposed lateral ports 4I in the piston rod 36. The lower end of the piston 4l is closed and is bolted or otherwise made fast to the head of a cylindrical extension 42 which carries at its lower end the aforesaid valve housing 33. The upper head 43 of the piston 4l is provided with ports 44 which admit the cooling iluid into the piston 40 and frornwhich it is injected through the ports 4I into the pipe 31 on the upstroke of the piston 46. The piston 40 rides within a cylinder 45, the head 46 of which serves as a guide for the piston rod 38 in conjunction with a stuiilng box 41. Also, the head 4S is provided with an inlet pipe 48 for hot Water and a discharge pipe 49 for the same. The cylinder 45 is ilxed to rigid side frames 50 rising from the base structure II. Water is supplied from a source at usual city pressures, in the neighborhood of thirty pounds per square inch, through suitable heat apparatus, such as an instantaneous steam heater |00, diagrammatically shown, through a illter 69, and a check valve 39. The water is thus constantly supplied to a system including the cylinder 45 at about thirty pounds pressure. A solenoid operated control valve 66 is normally closed so that as the piston 40 rises within the cylinder 45, the water which fills the system is forced out through the needles 25, the check valve 33 preventing flow of the water into the pipe 46 and the solenoid valve 6I preventing tle discharge of the water until the desired quantity has been injected into the block. This quantity may be predetermined and accurately measured or controlled by the actuation of the solenoid valve 68 as will be more fully hereinafter described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the piston 40 reciprocates under the movement of the piston rod A36, the entire needle assembly will lower and rise, this action on the down stroke causing the needles 25 to enter well within the positioned hot molded block I2 and on the upstroke eject the water from the piston 40, by way of ports 4I, pipe 31, valve housing 33, chamber 30, and needles 25, into the hotblock. It should be noted that the valve housing 33 includes a check valve I arranged to open under pressure of the water discharged from the pipe 31 in excess of line pressure, thirty pounds per square inch, in the example.

For producing the required reciprocation of. the parts, the protruding upper end of the piston 38 terminates in a piston 52 riding in a cylinder 53 mounted upon a cross frame member 54 supported by the side frames 50. In this instance, air is used as' the operating medium for the piston 52, and supply pipes 55 and 56 respectively communicate with opposite ends of the cylinder 53 but under control of a solenoid-operated fourway valve 51, which is supplied from a main pipe 58. The timing and operating cycle will be later described.

stops IIII are secured to rods 65 and are posi- In order that the needles 25 and associated parts may be properly braced and restrained against misalinement, the platen 21 and the plate 3l are welded to a pair of tubular bosses 60, disposed at opposite sides of the valve housing 33 and arranged to slide respectively on two guide rods 6I which parallel opposite sides of the assembly, being rigidly held by the cross frame 54 and an intermediate frame brace 62. These rods 6I also serve as side supports for the water cylinder 45, from which the'head plates 63 project laterally for anchoring to the guide rods 6I. cushioning springs 58 are provided for yieldingly supporting the cylinder 45 and its associated mechanism.

In Figures 1 and 2, the needles 25 are shown as extending slightly below the center of the block I2. It will be understood that the needles may be of a length such that they extend either above or below the location shown, depending upon the density of the block and other variable factors. The stroke of the piston 52 will, of course, have to .be adjusted to accommodate the selected stroke of the injecting mechanism. Particularly good results have been achieved with forty-three needles in a thirty-seven inch by thirteen inch by nineteen and one-half inch block of corkboard having a density of about seven pounds per cubic foot with the needles extending to a point about one inch from the -bottom of the block and injecting about six pints of water heated to about 200 F. The blocks as fed to the injection press were at a temperature of about 500 F. and immediately after water injection were found to have been reduced to a maximum of about 250 F. This is substantially below the ignition and charring temperatures. It is also well above the temperature at which water, as such, can be maintained in the block, the same having been converted into steam, thus absorbing the heat stored in the block which as mentioned above was initially at about 500 F. There will, of course, be deposited in the sblock when it reaches a temperature below the vapor point of the water a small quantity of water resulting from the condensation of the residual steam in the block when it reaches the vapor point, approximately 212 F. This generally will be in the order of two percent by weight of the block. Dry corkboard would ordinarily absorb at least that amount from the atmosphere.

To facilitate the stripping of the block I2 from the needles 25, a stripper plate 64 is provided which is located below and parallels the platen 21, the said plate 64 being apertured for the passage of the respective needles 25. Rods 65 are attached at opposite ends of the plate 64, respectively, and are slidingly arranged in bosses 55' anchored to the brace member 52. Also, ex-

tensions terminating in bearing bosses 66 projectv from the platen 21 and the plate 3i as guides for these rods 65. The upper ends of the rods 65 are respectively terminated in counterweights 61, which function under gravity to hold the stripper plate 64 down as the needle assembly moves up. Since the stripper plate 64 normally rests upon the upper face of a block I2, during the insertion and removal of the needles 25 the weights 61 hold the stripper plate 64 down so that the needles 25 are drawn upwardly therethrough and the block I2 is thus released from the needles.

In order to lift the stripper plate 54 from the injected block so that it may be moved out of the injecting station and an untreated block inserted,

tioned to be engaged by the bosses 66 on the injecting head assembly when the necdles'25 have vbeen extracted from the block. Upon engagement of the stops |0| by the bosses 66. further upward travel of the injectingI head assembly elevates the stripper plate 64 away from the injected block.

In order to operate the machine automatically to carry out the'required series of steps in proper sequence, a. plurality of electrical circuits are provided as shown in Fig. 9, wherein one circuit controls the stopping and starting of the block conveyor through the medium of the motor 2|, a second circuit controls the operation of the solenoid operated air valve 51, and a third circuit controls a solenoid valve 68 by which the discharge of water from the piston cylinder 40 is regulated.

The circuit of the motor 2| includes a magnetic switch 10, a stop limit switch 1|, a starting switch 12, and an auxiliary starting switch 13, the latter two 12 and 13 being in parallel with each other but in series with the stop limit switch 1|. The limit switches are of thespring actuated type wherein after being mechanically opened or closed as the case may be, each returns to its normal position. As shown, the stop limit switch 1| is located in the path of a series of stop cams 14 carried by the conveyor chain IB, and so spaced thereon as to trip the limit switch 1| at the proper time to ensure the block 2 being in operative position under the injection press of which the needles form a part. Preferably, each stop cam 14 is mounted upon the stub shaft 23 of the push rollers 24 since the latter are properly spaced with respect to the travel of the f blocks I2. Each stop cam 14 has a dwell 15 arranged to pick up a roller 16 carried by the projecting switch operating arm 11, in order, in this instance, to break theY motor circuit and stop the conveyor.

The second circuit for controlling the solenoid air valve 51 comprises two separate branches for independently operating a magnetic switch 80, controlling the solenoid air valve 51 which admits air under pressure alternately above and below the piston 52 in the cylinder 53 to actuate the injection press. One of these branches includes two terminals 8| and 82 formed as a part of the stop limit switch 1|, the arrangement being such that when the stop limit switch 1| is opened by a cam 14, the contactor 83 bridges the terminals 8| and 82 to thereby energize the magnetic switch 80 and actuate solenoid air valve 51 to cause the piston 52 to operate upon its working stroke so that the needles 25 pierce the block 2. The other of the two branches includes a snap limit switch 84 fixed to the machine frame so that its projecting contactor roller 85 is in the path of a cam tappet 86 which is fixed to rod 81 carried by the reciprocable extension 42. Preferably, the tappet 86 is adjustable on the rod 81 in order to vary the stroke of the needles should it be necessary', but is normally located to trip the limit switch 84 near or at the end of the down stroke. When the switch 84 is opened by the action of the tappet 86, the magnetic switch 89 is deenergized so that the solenoid air valve is released and the four-way valve is urged by its actuating spring to its normal position where it admits air to the lower end of the piston 52 and thereby withdraws the needles from the block l2.

In order to operate the auxiliary starting switch 13, it is mounted on the frame so that its spring pressed contactor arm and roller 8S is in the path of a tappet 93, here shown as fixed to the rod 81 ln such a, position that at or near the end of the upstroke of the needles the tappet 90 will cause the switch 13 to close and thereby energize switch 10 which will start the motor 2| for the next cycle.

The third control circuit includes a' magnetic switch 9| which when energized opens the solenoid valve 68 to permit the discharge of water from the cylinder 45 and thus arrest the flow of water through the needles 25 as previously described, and when deenergized, the valve 68 closes to cut off the discharge of water, causing the same to be fed into and through the needles 25. The system being supplied with water through line 48 at about thirty pounds per square inch pressure completely fills the system up to the solenoid valve 68 upon the down stroke of the needles, and the valve 68 is opening only after the desired quantity of water has been lnjected into the block. If it is desired to inject all of the water in the system, it will not be necessary to open the valve 68, but it is preferred to have an excess of water in the system to take care of unusual conditions and inject only a portion of it. The energization of the switch 9| is controlled by two limit switches 92 and 93 in the circuit, having actuating arms and rollers 94 and 95 respectively arranged in the paths of two tappets 96 and 91 carried by a rod 98 attached to and movable with the reciprocable extension 42. The tappet 96 is located on the rod 98 so that it will actuate the switch I92 to close the circuit for magnetic switch 9| at or near the beginning of the down stroke of the needle press, while the tappet 91 is located on the rod 98 so that it will actuate the limit switch 93 to deenergize the magnetic switch 9| as the rod 98 moves upwardly, after a desired quantity of water has been injected through the needles 25, discharge of the excess in the system being eilected through the solenoid valve 68.

The cycle of operation is as follows: Assuming that a baked cork block has been delivered to the receiving end of the machine and is in position to be engaged .by one pair of the push rollers 24, the starting switch 12 is manually closed to thereby shift the magnetic switch 18 to close the circuit of the motor 2|. This causes the conveyor to operate and through the push rollers 24 feed a cork block I2 into the machine in register with the press carrying the needles 25. During the feeding of-the block, the cam 14 brings its dwell 15 into contact with the limit switch roller 18 which is then actuated to break the motor circuit, to stop the conveyor, simultaneously bridg` ing the terminals 8| and 82 to close the circuit to energize the magnetic switch 80. This latter then actuates the solenoid air valve 51 vto admit air under pressure into the cylinder 53 above the piston 52, and the needles 25 starting travelling downward to enter the positioned block.

As piston 52 moves down in lcylinder 53, rods 81 and 98 move downwardly in unison therewith. Cam tappet 90 rides over the control roller 88 of limit switch 13 without effecting any change in the system since switch 13 is a one-way switch responsive only to movement in an upward direction. Tappet 96, however, engages roller 94 on limit switch 92 which is effective for energizing magnetic switch 9|, which in turn controls the solenoid valve 68 for the water discharge, clos ing the same. The tappet 91 on rod 8 will pass freely over roller 95 of limit switch 93 since this is also an up-operating, one-way limit switch. As

downward movement continues t0 the desired lowermost position, tappet engages the oontacting roller 88 of limit switch Il, thus breaking the circuit for the magnetic switch 80 and deenergizing the solenoid 51, which causes the fourway valve to return toits normal position and air is admitted below the piston 52 in cylinder 5I and the piston 38 is elevated. 'I'his effects the iniection of water through the needles 25 into the block I2. As the movement of the piston 52 continues in an upward direction, cam tappet I1 engages contact 85 of limit switch 93, which breaks the circuit for magnetic .switch 9i, thus releasing solenoid valve 6l and permitting the discharge of water through the pipe 49 from the cylinder 45. As heretofore mentioned, the tappet 91 is so positioned that it engages the roller of switch 93 only after the desired quantity of water has :been injected into the formed block. By adjustment of the position oi the tappet 91, the quantity of water injected can be nicely controlled. As the lupward movement of the piston 52 continues, tappet 86 will engage the roller 85 on limit switch 84, but since this is a down-acting switch, no change will be effected in the control system. Upward movement will continue until tappet 9D engages contact roller 88 ci limit switch 13, which thereupon energizes magnetic switch 10 and starts the motor 2i. The cycle repeats from that point on.

The apparatus herein disclosed is effective for carrying out the method described and claimed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 709,314, filed November l2, 1946, and entitled Method of making corkboard insulation and the like.

While the mechanism has been illustrated and described for operation upon a thirty-seven inch by nineteen and on-half inch by thirteen inch block, it will be clear that the apparatus maybe conveniently arranged to operate upon blocks of any given size. Where large blocks are made in the molds, it may be desirable to iirst slab the blocks into smaller sized blocks say thirty-seven inches by thirteen inches by six inches prior to injection of the cooling medium.

'I'he apparatus herein disclosed is practically completely automatic in operation and in actual use of the equipment it has been found that by its use as herein described, the corkboard blocks may be effectively and eiilciently reduced in temperature without in any manner deleteriously aiecting the structure of the corkboard. The needles, when withdrawn from the block, do not leave any visible openings in the block and it appears that the cork granules which are actually lpierced by the needles tend to be resiliently urged back into their original position, closing the piercing openings.

The apparatus is inexpensive to operate since it requires but a. very small quantity of water for effectively reducing the temperature of the formed block and requires very little maintenance due to its rigid construction. A single operator can conveniently handle the output of twenty to thirty corkboard molds with a single injection press, for the operation is, as pointed out above, completely automatic. The power required to operate the equipment is slight, a one and onehaif H. P. motor being adequate for the block conveyor and air at eighty pounds pressure being effective for reciprocation of the injector head and its associated equipment.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same may be otherwise em- 8 bodied and mama within the scope of the foilowing claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid'cooling medium into a molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent interna] charting of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, injection -means engageable with said block and having a plurality of openings for the delivery of a liquid cooling medium into said block at a plurality oi' spaced locations, means for bringing into engagement said injection means and said block to be treated disposed on said support, a source of liquid coolingmedium, and means for delivering said liquid cooling medium under pressure from said source into said injection means and through the openings therein into the block to cause said liquid cooling medium to be distributed within the body of said block to prevent internal charring,

2. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid cooling medium into a superheated molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a plurality of piercing devices, means for relatively moving said support and piercing devices to bring said piercing devices into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support to form a plurality of inlets into said block, a source of liquid cooling medium, and means for delivering said liquid cooling medium from said source into said inlets through said piercing devices under pressure to cause said liquid cooling medium to be distributed within the body of said block to prevent internal chaning.

3. In an apparatus for injecting water into a molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring oi' the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, injection means engageable with said block and having a plurality of openings for the delivery of water into said block at a plurality of spaced locations, means for relatively moving said support and said injection means to bring said injection means into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support, a source of cooling water, and means for delivering said cooling water under pressure from said source into said injection means and through said openings therein into said block to cause said cooling water to be distributed within the body of said block to prevent internal charring.

4. In an apparatus for injecting cooling water into a molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, injection means engageable with said block and having a plurality of openings for the delivery of cooling water into said block at a plurality of spaced locations, means for relatively l moving said support and said injection means to bring said injection means into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support, a source of cooling water heated to a temperature above F., and means for delivering said heated cooling water under pressure from said source into said injection means and through said openings therein into said block to cause said heated cooling water to be distributed within the body of said block to preventl internal charring.

5. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid cooling medium into a superheated block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a plurality of piercing devices,V means for relatively moving said support and piercing devices to bring said piercing devices into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support to form a plurality of inlets into said block and to withdraw said piercing devices from within said block, a stripper plate engageable with said block and through which said piercing devices pass, means for holding said stripper plate in engagement with said block upon relative movement between said piercing devices and said support upon removal of said piercing devices from within said block, a source of liquid cooling medium, and means for delivering said cooling medium from said source into said inlets through said piercing devices under pressure to cause said liquid cooling medium to be distributed within the body of said block to prevent internal charring.

6, In an apparatus for injecting a liquid cooling medium into a' superheated molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a plurality of hollow piercing needles each having an inlet opening adjacent one end thereof and an outlet opening adjacent the other end thereof, means for relatively moving said support and piercing devices to bring said piercing devices into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support with the outlet/'openings of said piercing devices disposed within said block, a source of liquid cooling medium, and means for delivering said liquid cooling medium from said source into said needles and through said outlets therein under pressure to cause said liquid cooling medium to be distributed within the body of said block to prevent internal charring.

'7. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid cooling medium into a superheated molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a supporting bed for locating a molded block to be treated, a plurality of hollow piercing needles, means upon which said piercing needles are mounted for simultaneous motion, means for moving said needles toward said bed to project said needles into the body of said block to be treated disposed on said bed, each of said needles having an inlet opening and a discharge opening, a source of liquid cooling medium, and means for delivering said liquid cooling medium from said source to said needles and through said needles into the body of the block to prevent in- 'ternal charring.

8. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid cooling medium into a molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a conveyor for delivering a block to said support, means controlled by said coiveyor for stopping said block on said support, plurality of piercing devices, means for mounting said piercing devices in alignment with said support, means for relatively moving said support and piercing devices to bring said piercing devices into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support with said needles disposed within the body of said block, ,means operating in time relationship with said stopping means for actuating said moving means, and means operated by said moving means for introducing a liquid cooling medium from said source into said block through said piercing devices under pressure to cause said liquid cooling medium to be distributed within the body of said block to prevent internal charring.

9. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid cooling medium into a molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a plurality of piercing devices, means for relatively moving said support and piercing devices to bring said piercing devices into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support to form a plurality of inlets into said block, a source of liquid cooling medium, and means for delivering said liquid cooling medium from said source into said inlets through said piercing devices under pressure during relative motion of said piercing devices with respect to said support to cause said liquid cooling medium to be distributed within the body of said block on said support as said needles move within the block and thereby prevent internal charring.

l0. In an apparatus for injecting cooling water into a molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a plurality of piercing needles, each having an inlet opening and a discharge opening with the discharge opening disposed adjacent the piercing end of the needle, means for relatively moving said support and needles to bring said needles into engagement with said block to be treated disposed on said support with the needles penetrating within the block, a source of cooling water, and means for delivering cooling water from said source through the discharge openings in said needles under pressure upon the relative movement of said needles with respect to said support and said block as the needles are being withdrawn therefrom to cause said cooling water to be distributed within the body of said block to prevent internal charring.

11. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid dooling medium into a superheated molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a conveyor for delivering a block to said support, means controlled by said conveyor for stopping said block onsaid support, a plurality of piercing needles, means for mounting said needles in alignment with said block, a reciprocating mechanism for moving said needles and said mounting means toward and away from said block to cause said needlesf'to enter said block and form inlets therein, means operating in timed relationship with said stopping means for actuating said reciprocating mechanism, a source of liquid cooling medium, and means operable on the upstroke of said reciprocating means for delivering said liquid cooling medium from said source into said inlets through said needles under pressure to cause said liquid cooling medium to be distributed with the body of said block to prevent internal charrins.

12. In an apparatus for injecting a liquid cooling medium into a superheated molded block of combustible organic material such as cork which has been removed from its forming mold and which is at a temperature above its ignition point to prevent internal charring of the block, the combination of a support for a block to be treated, a plurality of piercing devices arranged in closely spaced relationship to engage said block upon said support and form inlets into the block throughout substantially the entire cross-sectional area thereof, means for relatively moving said support and piercing devices to bring said piercing devices into position within the block and extending from the top oi' the block to a point ad- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 681,121 Hudson Aug. 20, 1901 H846,211 Johnson Mar. 5, 1907 997,056 Grunzweig July 4, 1911 999,824 McCampbell Aug. 8, 1911 1,960,486 ,Freeman May 29, 1934 2,035,956 Freeman Mar. 31, 1936 2,258,173 Bratek et ai. Oct. 7, 1941 2,339,458 Champney Jan. 18, 1944 

